First Transit Inc., private provider of transit management and contracting services, has been awarded two new university transit contracts.

First Transit, part of Cincinnati-based FirstGroup America, signed a five-year agreement with Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., beginning this month which includes the operation, maintenance and management of a fleet of 23 new shuttle buses serving students, faculty and visitors to the University.

The new buses will be equipped with some of the latest transit industry technology, including GPS, automatic vehicle locator and automatic counting systems.

“We look forward to working closely with First Transit to provide the students, staff, and faculty of LSU with a first-class transit system to meet the needs of the community,” said Gary Graham, director of LSU Parking, Traffic & Transportation. Graham added, “The students were the driving force behind the push to have state-of-the art technology as well as to be more green and we will work with First Transit to give them a great bus system that meets these needs.”

First Transit was also awarded the off-campus shuttle contract for the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa , Ala.  This two-year agreement includes the operation, maintenance and management of a fleet of two fixed route buses servicing two daily, off-campus routes.

“We are pleased to be able to provide quality transit services for both Louisiana State University and the University of Alabama ,” said Brad Thomas, president of First Transit and First Services. "First Transit will utilize its operations expertise to increase efficiencies in the University’s transit services.”